Even as the world awaits the results of the US presidential elections, Indian-Americans have some reason to celebrate.
Nearly 1.6 million Indian-Americans have voted this year.
Though they make up only roughly 1 per cent of the population, they have significant political clout.
Apart from Kamala Harris, the first Indian-American vice-presidential candidate, this year’s election featured a record number of candidates from the community in key states and federal races across America, with many emerging victorious.
Over a dozen Indian-Americans, including five women, have won state-level elections, making it a first for the community in many instances.
This is in addition to the four Indian-American Democratic representatives in the US House, known as the “Samosa Caucus”, who have been re-elected.
While Ro Khanna, Raja Krishnamoorthi and Pramila Jayapal have been serving in the House since 2017, Dr Ami Bera is the longest-serving lawmaker, having represented California’s 7th Congressional district since 2013 and being re-elected in 2014, 2016 and 2018.
Twenty-nine-year-old Republican Niraj Antani created history this year by becoming the first Indian-American to be elected to the Ohio state Senate.
However, not everyone was a winner.
Four Indian-Americans, including two women, lost the race.
More or less, this year’s election represents a giant leap forward for the Indian-Americans’ role in US politics.
